Why did the Hutu hate the Tutsi?

They characterized the Tutsi as a dangerous enemy that wanted to seize the political power at the expense of Hutu. By linking the Rwandan Patriotic Army with the Tutsi political party and ordinary Tutsi citizens, they classified the entire ethnic group as one homogenous threat to Rwandans.

Who is Tutsi tribe?

Tutsi, also called Batusi, Tussi, Watusi, or Watutsi, ethnic group of probable Nilotic origin, whose members live within Rwanda and Burundi. The Tutsi formed the traditional aristocratic minority in both countries, constituting about 9 percent and 14 percent of the population, respectively.

Where did the Hutus come from originally?

Origins. The Hutu are believed to have first emigrated to the Great Lake region from Central Africa in the great Bantu expansion. Various theories have emerged to explain the purported physical differences between them and their fellow Bantu-speaking neighbors, the Tutsi.

Who were the Interahamwe What was their role in the genocide?

The Interahamwe, led by Robert Kajuga, were the main perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide, during which an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi, Twa, and moderate Hutus were killed from April to July 1994, and the term “Interahamwe” was widened to mean any civilian bands killing Tutsi.

How did the conflict between the Hutus and Tutsi begin?

The story behind the Rwandan genocide begins with colonialism. The split between Hutus and Tutsis arose not as a result of religious or cultural differences, but economic ones. “Hutus” were people who farmed crops, while “Tutsis” were people who tended livestock. Most Rwandans were Hutus.

What is Hutus and Tutsis?

Generally speaking, Hutus were an agricultural people who lived in large family groups. The Tutsis, also known as Watutsis, were a nomadic people who began arriving in the Great Lakes region from Ethiopia some four hundred years ago. “In Rwanda, the Tutsi and the Hutu are the same people.

How do you know if you are a Hutu or Tutsi?

If you were close to the king, you owned wealth, you owned a lot of cattle, you are a Tutsi. If you are far away from the king, you are a cultivator, you don’t own much cattle, you are a Hutu.” Colonial rule, which began in the late 19th Century, did little to bring the groups together.

Do Tutsi still exist?

There are essentially two groups of Tutsi in the Congo (DRC). There is the Banyamulenge, who live in the southern tip of South Kivu. They are descendants of migrating Rwandan, Burundian and Tanzanian pastoralists.

Does Rwanda deny the genocide?

Rwandan genocide denial is the assertion that the Rwandan genocide did not occur, specifically rejection of the scholarly consensus that Rwandan Tutsis were the victims of a genocide between 7 April and 15 July 1994. The perpetrators, a small minority of other Hutu, and a fringe of Western writers dispute that reality.

What are the Tutsi and Hutu?

The split between Hutus and Tutsis arose not as a result of religious or cultural differences, but economic ones. “Hutus” were people who farmed crops, while “Tutsis” were people who tended livestock. Most Rwandans were Hutus. Gradually, these class divisions became seen as ethnic designations.

Are Hutus and Tutsis different races?

Hutu and Tutsi inhabit Rwanda and Burundi in Central Africa. There are no significant linguistic or religious differences between them and they both live in mixed settlements, however, violent ethnic conflicts have erupted between these groups.

Are Tutsis taller than Hutus?

The two ethnic groups are actually very similar – they speak the same language, inhabit the same areas and follow the same traditions. However, Tutsis are often taller and thinner than Hutus, with some saying their origins lie in Ethiopia.